Elder law firms merge

Futterman & Lanza, an elder law firm headquartered in Smithtown, has merged with The Elder Law & Special Needs Practice of Felicia Pasculli, an elder attorney practice in Bay Shore.

The new firm is called Futterman, Lanza & Pasculli.

Aaron Futterman, a partner, told LIBN that the merger consists of “two like-minded law firms” that “value compassion as much as expertise and years of focused experience in elder law and estate planning.”

And, like Amazon, with new headquarters planned in separate locations to provide a broader presence, Futterman, Lanza & Pasculli will maintain two headquarters: Smithtown and Bay Shore.

The merger would “make it easier for all of us to support our clients with well-established main offices on both the North Shore and the South Shore of Long Island,” Futterman said.

Small firms that merge can maximize efficiencies, offer more extensive experience and provide a broader platform, legal experts have said.

Futterman noted that “Pasculli has extensive experience with veteran’s benefits, so now we can be even more helpful to the particular challenges veterans may face with long term health care or estate planning.”

Pasculli said the merger created a “synergy,” providing clients “greater value and increased options.”

Pasculli said the two firms were a good match for each other.

“The cultures and philosophies of our firms are compatible,” she said. “We both believe in customized strategies for each client and not an assembly-line approach.”

That’s important, she said, because “we are dealing with people in vulnerable and sensitive situations.”

Speaking to the firm’s compatibilities, Ronald Lanza, a partner, said they each offered a “holistic approach to our clients’ needs.”

“We believe in maximum availability and accessibility – being there when our clients are in crisis,” he added.

And this is especially key in the field of elder law, he pointed out.

“Our area of the law demands more than just rote legal responses,” he said. “It must take into account clients’ lifestyles, medical needs, and family dynamics.”